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Aussies seek bail after Phuket shooting

Bangkok

Two Australian men arrested on the Thai resort island of Phuket in a shooting incident are due to face court in a bid to secure bail, legal sources say.

John Edward Cohen, 33, from NSW and Adam Lewis Shea, 26, from Tasmania were arrested after a shooting incident on Tuesday evening that left two German tourists injured, one seriously.

Thai police investigations are examining possible links between the men and the Australian motorcycle gang, the Bandidos.

But local sources say the Australians were members of a rival group, the Rebel Motorcycle Club.

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Lawyers for the men are expected to apply for bail when they appear before a local judge late on Thursday.

Cohen, who allegedly fired the pistol, is a long-term expatriate and a business-owner in Phuket.

The police said the shooting occurred around 7.45pm local time on Tuesday near the Baan Pirin Hotel where the two German men had been staying.

The two Australian men fled the scene, but were later arrested in separate locations.

The men are facing charges of firing a weapon in a public place with intent to kill.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney, Acting NSW Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas said there hadn't yet been any contact with Thai police.

"But we're obviously happy to help in any way that we can," he said.

"We don't have any jurisdiction over there but I would say that any spreading influence of bikie groups, whether it's interstate or overseas, it's something we're concerned about, we're not happy about it."